Raccoons can be a delight to behold, with their bandit masks, tiny hands, and striped tails – but living with raccoon populations can also cause conflict. Raccoons have no idea that they are not welcome to make our attics into their dens, or that the food we left outside was for the neighborhood cat and not for them, or that the leftover pizza we put in our trash can outside wasn’t a thoughtful present. The good news is that all of these conflicts have simple, humane solutions.

Here are a few tips that will allow you to coexist peacefully with your raccoon neighbors:

Let it be, let it be.

Raccoon populations have adapted to live in urban areas in many parts of the country out of necessity and may appear comfortable approaching humans, but as with most wildlife the best thing humans can do for raccoons is leave them alone.

• If there is a raccoon in your yard who does not appear to be sick or injured, let him be. He will most likely leave on his own when he feels comfortable.
• If you’re having work done on your trees and discover baby raccoons, let them be. In most cases, mom was just out looking for food or a new den, and she’ll be back soon enough. However, if there is no sign of mom the following morning, call Animal Services for assistance. They’ll pick up the babies and make sure they go to a wildlife rehabber.
• If you see a raccoon out in the daytime, let him be. Just being outside during daylight hours does not mean he’s sick or rabid. His home may have been disturbed, or he could just be hungry. It’s perfectly normal for raccoons to be active during the day.
• If you see baby raccoons or a raccoon you encounter seems friendly, let them be. Raccoons are wild animals and a raccoon who feels cornered or threatened can be dangerous. Raccoons (along with foxes, skunks, and bats) are “rabies vector species” (meaning they have a higher risk of contracting and spreading rabies) and therefore you should never attempt to handle them. If you need assistance with a raccoon, don’t take matters into your own hands: Call Animal Services! They’re trained to safely handle raccoons and other wildlife.

The best offense is a good defense.

Raccoons are creatures of opportunity – if you’re offering them a source of food or shelter in your backyard or behind your place of business, they will graciously accept. However, if you leave raccoons no reason to pay you a visit, they will leave you (and your yard, your trash cans, your shed, your vegetable garden, and your attic…) alone.

• Secure your trash can lids. A heavyweight metal trash can with a lid that locks into place is your best line of defense against raccoons on the hunt for a meal. You can also secure your trash can’s lid into place with clamps, bungee cord, rope, or a brick to keep raccoons from getting into your trash.
• Don’t feed raccoons – either on purpose or accidentally. In addition to securing your trash can lids, avoid leaving any pet food or treats outside and feed your pets indoors.
• You will never need to remove raccoons or other animals from your home if you never let them inside in the first place. Inspect your home for holes and any spots that might be attractive to a raccoon looking for a den. After you confirm that you don’t currently have any wildlife using that spot, seal off any potential entry points with heavy materials such as wire mesh, sheet metal, or metal flashing.
• If you suspect you may have uninvited raccoon tenants, following these tips from The Humane Society of the United States can help you humanely evict them. Animal Services is unable to remove raccoons from inside walls or chimneys, and we are unable to remove any animals that appear healthy, but our Officers are always available to answer questions or provide advice if you find raccoons in your home. You can also call the Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) and the Department of Agriculture’s toll-free help line at (855) 571-9003 from 8:00AM – 4:30PM Monday through Friday for help dealing with wildlife issues.
• Trapping is not the answer: Even if a trapper promises to release a wild animal after trapping, they are usually euthanized – often using inhumane methods that cause suffering.
• Raccoons don’t know that the tasty veggies you’re growing in your garden aren’t for them, but you can keep them away with a secure fence, motion-detecting sprinklers, bright blinking lights or motion-detecting lights, and planting natural repellents like cayenne peppers. Use caution when purchasing commercial repellents, as they may pose a risk to pets.
• Protect your pets by vaccinating them against rabies.